New Milton Town Mayor, Cllr Alvin Reid, and his Deputy Mayor Cllr David Rice Mundy, hosted a very well-attended Annual Carol Service at St Mary Magdalene Church, New Milton, on Saturday 6 December 2025.
Invited guests and the local congregation, numbering around 230 people, joined the Mayor, Town Councillors and Civic guests, to enjoy special musical performances and Christmas readings led by our new Rector Rev. Jon Westall.
The Tullagh Junior Strings Ensemble treated the congregation to a wonderful selection of Christmas favourites under the musical direction of Jo Handy finishing with a lively and uplifting Jingle Bells, they were followed by the Ballard School Chamber Choir who gave the congregation beautiful renditions of Lully, Lulla, Lullay, Cradle Hymn and The Very Best Time of Year by Philip Stopford, Kim Andre Arnesen and John Rutter respectively.
The congregation thoroughly enjoyed the service and a total of £500 was donated in the retiring collection for the Mayor’s charity this year – Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.
Cllr Alvin Reid praised the performances saying “It was wonderful to see so many talented young people coming to perform at my carol service. It was a magical evening.”
He went on to say “I am delighted that so many people came to enjoy the Carol Service, and their generosity towards my chosen charity the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance was extraordinary, it’s such a worthy cause, and the congregation has been wonderfully kind.”
Further information about Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance